This is the right tasting for you if you have had little or no experience with whisky. Using many images, I introduce you to how this delicious drink is produced as we taste various bottlings from five different whisky regions of Scotland – I want your first impression to make you thirsty for more! We will also answer important questions regarding the glass, water and ice (!). I add a few anecdotes and sprinkle in some Scottish wisdom and toasts to ensure that the evening is both entertaining and informative.
Total time: approx. 2-2.5 hours
Additional knowledge for interested parties (Advanced Tasting)
This is the right choice if you already know the basics and would like to expand your knowledge. We taste six bottlings in cask strength and independent bottlers and also learn proper dilution to drinking strength. Other topics include the column still method and, most importantly, casks. As a special treat, we create a Nosing Wheel using a special bottling.
Total time: approx. 2-2.5 hours
Two Continents
If you’ve ever compared a classic Kentucky Straight Bourbon with an Islay Whisky, then you know how starkly they differ. We’re talking about two different galaxies here – with another galaxy in between the two. In this tasting we try seven completely different bottlings from the United States, Ireland and Scotland and take a detailed look at the differences in raw materials, distillation processes and especially the maturation process.
Total time: approx. 2.5-3 hours
Island Hopping
Hopscotch is the name of the “Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries” ticket where you can pick your own route with multiple trips. This is exactly what we do in this tasting – we create our own ticket and travel from island to island. It’s a journey for the senses to Scotland’s islands, travelling counter-clockwise from the Isle of Arran to Islay. Seven different bottlings take us to seven different distilleries, yet we still have plenty of time to look at each of them in great detail.
Total time: approx. 2-2.5 hours
Glenmorangie Tasting
Why just a single distillery? And why Glenmorangie? Apart from its stunning location on the North East coast of Scotland, Glenmorangie was one of the first distilleries to experiment with finishes and has released a corresponding selection. The “Sixteen Men of Tain” (including one woman) create a range of high-quality bottlings from “Original”, different finishes and special bottlings to “Signet”. Take an exclusive trip to Tain with special regards to Andy and Dr. Bill.
Total time: 2-2.5 hours
Adelphi – The Independent
A special whisky for more advanced enthusiasts. In Germany, Adelphi is one of the lessor-known, independent bottlers. If you know a little bit about this bottler, you will understand just how important the selection of casks is. And Adelphi chooses these with utmost care. All bottlings are sold exclusively in cask strength, which makes a tasting all the more interesting. The people at Adelphi also have their own story … we try six interesting cask strengths of various distilleries in this tasting. And while we’re at it, we also take a look at the Ardnamurchan distillery, which is only a few years old and owned by Adelphi.
Total time: approx. 2-2.5 hours
Blended Scotch
Exports of Blended Scotch already reached a value of £2.7 billion in 2016. The blends from Scotland and Ireland boomed during Prohibition in the United States. Today, when they hear the word “blend”, many people think of only one brand that you can get at any petrol station. But there is an interesting story behind this kind of whisky – and a distillation process that requires a fine nose. You will experience five different bottlings and the whole story of Blended Scotch Whisky in this tasting.
Total time: approx. 2-2.5 hours
German Whisky
Germany now has nearly 150 distilleries that produce whisky. Some are small and regional, others offer it in addition to their main product, fine brandies, and still others have their own specially built distilleries for this purpose. However, none of them are trying to copy a Scottish whisky. That would be quite unrealistic. Instead, they have their own style. And this makes the German whisky world much more colourful.
I am still working on this tasting and will begin to offer it in 2018.